Well, not actually on me, but on a tuckerization by me in a short story or novel as part of a fundraiser for the Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund this year. For those of you who don’t know, TAFF sends – in alternating years – a delegate(s) from North America to Europe or from Europe to N. […]
Bid on me! Raise money for TAFF Read More »
It’s like I’m the Scrooge of Thanksgiving. Leftovers? Bah! Humbug. In America, nothing matches the archetype of “Feast” like the Thanksgiving dinner, which conjures images of tables groaning with food. But all that bounty comes with a price: leftovers. Sure, with that first turkey sandwich you're living the good life. But how long before the
AMC – Ten Fantasy Meals I Would Rather Eat Than Thanksgiving Leftovers Read More »
Orycon starts tomorrow, which I’m very much looking forward to. Here is my schedule and I hope to see some of you there. Panel Start Panel End Panel Title Panel Location Panel Description Moderator in Bold Fri Nov 27 12:00:pm Fri Nov 27 1:00:pm I have a story idea, where do I start? Madison Beginnings,
Orycon 09 Schedule Read More »
Woot! Scenting the Dark and Other Stories has come back from the printer which means that Subterranean will be shipping them shortly. This is excellent news, in part because it means that they’ll be here in time for Christmas. What? You don’t think I’m spoiling the surprise that our folks are getting copies do you?
Scenting the Dark, ready to ship Read More »
Eek! How did I not post this earlier? My story “Body Language” is now up at OSC’s Intergalactic Medicine Show with an awesome cover illustration which you must now appreciate in all its glory. And here’s a teaser of the story. Saskia leaned into the darkness above the stage, only vaguely aware of the wood
Body Language at IGMS Read More »
While I was away at World Fantasy, I got the following email from Rob: I took Marlowe in first thing this morning to Fremont Vet. The tissue surrounding his eye is very swollen but they eye itself does not appear damaged. He is running a slight fever. The vet asked if our cats have been
Harriet and Marlowe visit the vet Read More »
My story, Jaiden’s Weaver takes place on a colony world with rings. I spent time with Jerry Oltion and Mike Brotherton at Launch Pad trying to make guesses about what it would look like from the planet’s surface. One of my classmates, David D. Levine, just sent me an animation of how the Earth would
The earth, with rings Read More »
Today was a strange blend of things. We got home from San Jose yesterday afternoon and I immediately had to get caught up with all the excitement about Harlequin — which oddly, usually would mean that I was talking about a puppet. So I wound up staying up way too late to help with that.
A mixed sort of day. Read More »
Holy cow! Puppeteers will know exactly why I just flipped, but I’ve found a video of Hansjürgen Fettig demonstrating his puppets. I’ve used his book as one of my puppet building bibles for years and seen the figures in exhibition but until this moment have never seen one in motion. Oh. My. God. I have
Hansjürgen Fettig interview Read More »
What do we love about Fantasy? The monsters. Fantasy has a lot of monsters. Sure, they turn up in science fiction from time to time, but nuclear mutations aside, enormous beasties are typically the result of imagination — and fantasy has the lock-down on sheer ferocity. Monsters make a ready conflict for the hero, and
AMC – The Ten Deadliest Monsters in Fantasy Read More »
You know, I just got a piece of fan mail — actual hard copy, through the postal service fan mail — for my work as Secretary of SFWA. This has totally made my day. People say this is a thankless job and they are just wrong.
I spent the day teaching puppetry up in Fremont at James Leitch Elementary. One of the interesting things about schools is that they all have different name structures for the teachers. In some I’m Mary, usually Miss Mary, and sometimes Mrs. Kowal. I always use the married version of the honorific when I’m filling out
On being Mrs. Kowal Read More »
Rob and I spent yesterday bumming around San Fransisco, interspersed with me doing drawings for a potential gig and prepping for the Nebula Nomination period to open at SFWA. The sweet boy has been endlessly patient with me. In the evening we joined the SF in SF group at Henry’s Hunan for dinner. It was
Walking, Dining, Reading Read More »
I’m in San Fransisco with Rob! Why? Well, I’m reading at Writers with Drinks tomorrow night. And our anniversary is on Tuesday, so we’re doing a little vacation here. Whee! Come to Writers with Drinks and say hello! Also reading: Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The Middleman TV series) Kat Richardson (Greywalker) Naomi Quiñonez (Invocation L.A.: Urban Multicultural
Writers with Drinks, Saturday! Read More »
While I think this is an unlikely scenario, I want to make this statement before the Nebula nominating period begins on November 15th. Because my involvement in the Nebula voting system is pretty intensive right now, I will decline any nominations of any of my fiction this year. The system is new and I have
Do not nominate me for a Nebula this year. Read More »